June 2025 - letter from the president
Dear TechRochester Community,
Summer Innovation is Here! As we transition into summer 2025, I'm energized by the incredible momentum our tech ecosystem continues to build. While many organizations slow down during the warmer months, our community knows that innovation never takes a vacation.
Our TechRise Roc program is in full swing and we held our kickoff event on June 10th. Attendees had rapid education from seasoned mentors who discussed business growth and insights. This program is ongoing, and you are welcome to join this initiative and support future technology companies in Rochester.
Last week, we celebrated our Party on the Patio to kickoff the Greater Rochester International Jazz Festival. While the weather was stormy and we had to move the event indoors, it didn’t stop our community from coming out, enjoying good food, drinks, and networking. The scene was set to jazz music in the background and everyone who attended had a great time!
This season brings unique opportunities for our tech community to connect, learn, and grow together. Summer offers us a chance to step away from the traditional setting and embrace more creative, collaborative formats. Our Made in Roc Series is scheduled through September, and our Third Annual Agile Connect Rochester Conference is in active planning. The team is hard at work, to bring you the most influential Agile practitioners in our region.
On September 24th Harter Secrest & Emery will be presenting a panel discussion on IP Protection and IP Contracts for Tech Innovators. If you want to learn about how to safeguard your company’s intellectual property, you won’t want to miss this!
I encourage you to visit our calendar and view all the events we have coming up as well as those of our community partners.
Summer is perfect for strengthening the connections that make our ecosystem thrive. I invite our members to connect and collaborate via our online member portal. This is where our members can share ideas, thought leadership, and network with one another. This is a member-only benefit, so sign up today and connect with our community!
We're actively seeking to fill open board positions, so if you want to get involved and help us shape the next wave of innovation, consider joining our board!
TechRochester's strength lies in its people – each of you brings unique perspectives, skills, and passion that elevate our entire community. This summer, I encourage you to:
Mentor someone earlier in their tech journey
Attend a community event that is outside your specialty area
Share your expertise through a lightning talk or workshop
Connect a colleague with an opportunity that could advance their career
Rochester's tech scene is at an inflection point. We have the talent, the infrastructure, and the collaborative spirit to compete with any tech hub in the country. Stay curious, stay connected, and let's make this a summer that accelerates Rochester's position as a premier destination for tech innovation.
Sincerely,
Susan Kavanagh
President, TechRochester
